‘Homeland,’ ‘Family Guy,’ ‘Sons of Anarchy’: When TV Kills

On Sunday night, some major TV characters met their ends, while one came back from the dead. The latter soap opera-style resurrection aside, the prime-time death toll has seemed especially high lately, even for a period of mid-season cliffhangers and finales. And there are more to come: Not long ago, “Simpsons” producer Al Jean announced that a regular character would die during the current season.

Such culls have become more common as producers try to prevent fans from getting complacent, and prove that there are high stakes in their storytelling. Now, with the obligatory warning about spoilers for shows whose fictional bodies are still warm, here’s a look at some of the biggest casualties of the season.

This copy is for your personal, non-commercial use only. Distribution and use of this material are governed by our Subscriber Agreement and by copyright law. For non-personal use or to order multiple copies, please contact Dow Jones Reprints at 1-800-843-0008 or visit www.djreprints.com.